Folder for sewing-machines.



J. R. MOFFATT.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1906.

Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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wlllllllll COLUMBIA PLANQGIZAPH (Em-WASHINGTON, D. C.

J. R. MOFFATT.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26' 1906.

Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEET$SHEET 2.

Symon! COLUMBIA PMNOUIAPH m, WMHIMN. D. C.-

J. R. MOFFATT.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, I906.

Patented. July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

6g Snoontoz Um mom J. R. MOFFATT.

FOLDER FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26. 1906.

Patented July 6, 1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

3 Mentor COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH CO WASHINGTON, D. C.

UFFIIJE.

JAMES B. MOFFAT'I, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPECIAL MACHINE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OIE ILLINOIS.

FOLDER FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

Application filed November 26, 1906. Serial No. 345,183.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES R. MOFFATT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folders for Sewing Machines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to folders for fabrics, and while said folder may be useful for various purposes, the same ismore especially adapted for folding a collaret so that the same is properly delivered to the stitching mechanism of a sewing machine whereby said folded collaret is attached to a body fabric.

An object of my invention is to provide a folder which may be adjustedso as to fold either ribbed or a plain collaret. A further object of my invention is to provide a folder which is made in sections so that the same may be adjusted for folding collarets of different widths.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved guiding means for guiding the strip on its way to the folder.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be more fully described hereinafter.

My invention consists in the novel parts and arrangements hereinafter shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of my invention: Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved folder and guide as shown attached to a sewing machine, the guide being shown in dotted lines in an adjusted position; F ig. 2 is an end view of the parts as shown in Fig. l; Fig.- 3 is a sectional view taken on the line mm shown in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. l is a view of the folder similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of auxiliary presser; Fig. 5 is a detailperspective of the auxiliary presser as shown in Fig. 4.; Fig. 6 is a detail perspective of the auxiliary presser shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a rear View of the strip guide; F ig, 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 7

9 is a detail perspective of the upper edge folding member; Fig. 10 is a detail perspective of the main body of the folder; and Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the lower folding member.

In the drawings I have shown my folder and guide as attached to a bed plate 1 of a sewing machine. The needle bar 2, the needles 3, 8, the presser bar 4, the presser foot 5, and the upper feeding member 6 are all of the usual construction and will not require further description.

My improved folder as shown in the pres ent embodiment of my invention is made in three parts, and comprises a main body folder, an upper edge folder, and a lower edge folder and each of these parts is pro vided with means for adjustably supporting the same so that any one of the parts may be adjusted relative to the others.

The main body folder 7, as shown. in detail in Fig. 10 consists of the guiding members 8 and 9 which are equally spaced and similarly curved so as to fold a strip intermediate its edges passing therefrom. Said members Sand 9 are preferably joined at their outer ends and thus practically form one continuous member, at the receiving end of said folder. The outer edges however,are left free a short distance from the receiving end to the delivery end as shown in Fig, 3. This folding member gradually tapers "from its receiving end toward its delivery end so that as the strip which is folded thereby leavesthe delivery end, said strip is folded upon itself intermediate its edges.

The guiding member 9 is made in two parts 10 and 11 which are slightly spaced so that when a ribbed or tipped collaret strip is passed through said folder a passage is provided for the rib or tip. In order to suitably support the main folding member, I have provided the same with a shank 12 which extends laterally from the body of said folder and is secured to the bed plate of the machine by means of ascrew 13 passing through a slot 1'4: in said shank. Said shank is-further retained on the bed plate by being located between the supporting member for the upper edge folder. I have also provided said shank with a stud 15 which engages the forked end of a lever 16 pivoted at 17 to the bed plate of the machine. It will be obvious that by loosening the screw 13 the operator may adjust the main folding member laterally by manipulating the lever 16 and when said folding member is properly positioned'the screw 13 is tightened, thus holding the folding member in its adjusted position. Cooperating with said main folder is an upper edge folder 18 shown in detail in Fig. 9. Said upper edge folder 18 extends the full length of the free or open edge of the main folder as shown in Fig. 4e. Said upper edge folder is provided with a downwardly and inwardly turned lip 19 which extends around and beneath the free edge of the main folder as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Said upper edge folder is support ed by means of two supporting members 20 and 21 which are'rigidly secured to the upper folder and extend along each side shank of the main folding-member and are secured to the bed plate by means of screws 2222, and 2323 respectively. Said supporting members 20 and 21 for the upper edge folding member are slotted as shown at 24l24,

and 25-25 respectively in Fig. 9. By loosening the screws 22 and 23, it .will be obvious that the upper edge folder may be adjusted transversely of the line of feed and by this adjustment the upper folding edge of the collaret may be adjusted relative to the needle or needles of the sewing machine. By this adjustment the upper edge may be so disposed'relative to the two needles that both needles will engage said upper edge or that only one of said needles will engage the folded edge, while the other engages the body fabric in a line parallel to the edge and adjacent thereto, and if desired cross threads may be led from one needle to the other thus covering the edge of the collaret. The lower edge folder 26 as shown in detail in F ig. 11 has an upwardly and inwardly extending lip 27. Said lower folding member extends substantially the entire length of the free or open edge ofthe main folder as shown in Fig. 2 and said lip 27 extends upwardly around said free edge. In order to support said lower folding member, I have provided the same with the elongated slots 29; which receive screws 30-30. The shank of the main folder is cut away in order to expose the screws 30 and by loosening said screws 30 the lower member may be adjusted so as to properly position the lower edge of the folded collaret relative to the lines of stitching. It will be obvious that by this adjustment of the lower folder the said lower edge of the collaret may be so positioned as to receive both lines of stitching when fed to a two needle machine or so positioned as to receive only one line of stitching while the other line of stitching is located adjacent to said edge in the body fabric and connected thereto by looper threads so as to cover the free edge of said folded strip.

The presscr foot 5 has a lateral extension 31, which extends over the folded strip as it leaves the delivery end of the folder and properly holds said strip relative to the body fabric until the same has been stitched. In order to form a proper support and guide for the folded collaret, I have provided a guiding member 32, shown in detail in Fig. 6, which is attached to the shank of the main folder 7. Said guiding member 32 is provided with an enlarged attached arm having a stud 33 which engages an opening 34: in the shank 12 and a suitable screw 35 engaging an opening 36 in the shank holds said guide firmly upon the shank of the main folder. Said guide member 32 has a guiding face 37 which extends along the opening formed between the members 10 and 11 of the main folder for a short distance from its delivery end thereby closing said opening. The guiding face 37 extends beyond the delivery end of the main folder to a position substantially in a line with the needles so that the edge of a plain collaret receives support and is held in a definite position relative to the needles until said collaret is secured to the body fabric. In order to pre vent the free edge of the collaret from buckling and extending up between the guiding face 37 and the presscr-foot, I have provided the guide 32 with an auxiliary pressing member 38 as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Said auxiliary pressing member has an elongated slot 39 and is secured to the guide 32 by means of a screw 40. Said auxiliary member 38 also has an upwardly directed toe 41 which prevents said pressing member from being caught by the goods passing underneath the same. When the main folder is adjusted so as to fold a wider collaret the auxiliary member 38 is adjusted so as to close up the space between the guiding face 37 and the extension 31 of the presscr-foot. It will thus be seen that the main presscr foot together with the auxiliary presscr member covers the entire surface of the collaret and holds the same in proper position until it is stitched.

When it is desired to fold a ribbed collaret, it is necessary to remove the auxiliary presscr member so as to allow the rib to pass freely through the opening between the members 10 and 11. In order to properly guide the rib, I provided a modified form of guide 42 shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Said guiding member i2 is provided with an enlarged attached arm 43 having a stud a l similar to the attaching means for the guide 32. Said guide 42 has a guiding face 43 which when the guide is attached to the main shank of the folder takes a position slightly at one side of the main folder and extends to a maaena point substantially in line with the. needles. Said guiding face 43 also has an, outwardly extending lip 47 which projects underneath the rib of the collaret and forms a Support for the edge thereof. 7

I have provided the guiding member 42 with a presser arm 45 which is secured tothe attaching arm of the guide 42 by-meansof a screw 46. Said arm45 extends along the face guide 43 and presses the rib of the collaret upon thelip 47 and thus serves as a means for properly guiding and holding the rib so that the collaret is properly positioned for the stitching mechanism. By mounting my guide upon the shank of the main folder, it will be seen that when said folder is adjusted for different widths of collarets, said guide-is also adjusted and the positionof the same relative to the main folder ismaintained. 1 V a My improved guide which receives and guides the'strip to befolded onits .way to the folder, comprisestwo guiding members 48 and 49 as shown in Figs. 2, 7 and 8. Said members 48 and 49 are provided with out wardly extending lips 50 and 51 respectively. The lip 51 has rigidly secured thereto depending rods 52 and 53 which extend downward throughsuitable openings inthe lip 50 at the lower edge of the guiding member 48. Said rods 52 and 53 together with the guiding members 48 and 49 form a guiding passage for the strip. The guiding member 49 is provided with supportingshanks 54 and 55 which are rigidly secured to the member 49 and extend outwardly and-downwardly and embrace the supporting posts 56 and 57 respectively which are rigidly supported by a supporting plate 57. The lower guiding member 48 is also provided with supporting arms 58 and 59 which are rigidly secured thereto and extend outward and upward and engage the supporting posts 56 and 57 respectively. The arms for supporting the guiding members 48 and 49 are adjustably secured totheir supporting posts by means of set screws so that said members 48 and 49 may be adjusted relative'to each other and the guiding passage formedbetween the said guiding members and the dependingrods adjusted for different widths of strips. When a ribbed collaret strip is attached to the body fabricthe space between the members 48 and 49 receives said rib and serves to guide the same on its way to the folder. l/Vhen however, a plain strip is led through said guide it is desired to close said space and I have therefore, provided the sliding plates 60 and 61. Said plate 60 is secured to the guiding member 48 by means of a screw 62. Said member 61 is also secured to the guiding. member49 by means of a slot screw 63. 'It will be noted that the front or delivery ends of the guiding'members 48 and 4'9are curved inwardly as at 64 so as .to provide a smooth surface over which the fabric slides as it passes from the guideto the folder. It will also be noted that the opposite or receiving ends of the members 48 and 49 are tapered inwardly as at65 and 566 (-see Fig. 7).

I have provided ,an auxiliary guiding means which guides the strip on its way to the main guide; Said auxiliary guide comprises; depending fingers 67 and 68. Said finger .67 is secured'tethe supporting arm 55 by means of a screw 69 and said finger extends outwardly and then downwardly substantially parallel to the guiding surfaces 48 and 49. -The guiding finger 68 is secured .to the supporting arm 55 by means of a screw 70 and said finger extends outwardly and then downwardly substantially parallel to the guiding surfaces 48 and 49. Said finger 68 however, is provided with a U shaped projection 71 which is substant-ially opposite the space between the edges of the guiding members 48 and 49. Said fingers are free at their lower ends so that the strip may be easily inserted between the same and when a ribbed strip is being folded said rib is received by the U shaped projection 7-1 and properly guided.

It will be noted that the supporting plate 57 for thestrip guide is pivotally supported by means of a screw 72 to the bed plate and thatsaid guide maybe angularly adjusted about said screw 72 and thus position at different distances from the folder. The ob ject of thisadjustment is so that the. guide may be swung out of the way to give better access to the folder when it is desired to thread the same. I

The operation of my device as above described in detail is thought to be obvious.

The strip A to be folded is led between the lingers 67 and 68 then through the guide be tween the'depending rods 52, 53 and the guiding members 48 and 49. The strip is then led over the smooth rounded face at the front end of the guiding faces 48 and 49 to the folder. The tapered edges 65 and 66 engage the outer edges of the strip to be folded and uncurl the same. The guide as above noted is adjusted so as to properly accommodate different widthsof strips and when it is desired to fold a. ribbed strip, the

plates 60 and 61 are adjusted so as to provide a proper recess between the same for the passages of the rib. The strip after it leaves theguides passes into the main folder where the same is bent upon itself intermediate its ends and the outer upper edge of said strip is received by the upper edge folding member 18 while the lower outer edge of the strip is received by the lower folding member. Owing to the fact that the strips to be folded are often stretched in length by handling, which reduces the width so that the exact width of the strip when it reaches the folder is not easily determined, it is often difficult to provide a finished collaret of a desired width. By my improved adjustable folder the main folder can be slightly adjusted either way so as to change the width of the finished" collaret and thus produce collarets of a definite width irrespective of the width of the strip received. By the adjustment of the upper and lower edge folders relative to the line of stitching the folded edges of the collaret may be positioned as desired relative to the needles. It will be noted that the bed plate is cut away for the attachment of the folder so, that the folder when attached to my machine extends both above and below said bed plate and the center line of said folder lies substantiallyin the plane of the work support. I have provided the work plate with an adjustable member 72 which extends to a point within the folder and serves to support the body goods passing through the machine. Saidplate 75'is adjustably secured to the folder bymeans of a screw 7 3 passing through a slot 74 in said plate. The object of making said plate adjustable is so that the same may be adjusted to allow .for adjustments of the main folder relative to the line of stitching. I w

i I It will be obvious that many minor changes may be madein the details of construction above described without departing fromthe spirit of my invention.

Having thus particularly described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A folder including in combination a main U-shaped folder, edge folders extending along side of said main folder and cooperating therewith, means for supporting saidedgefolders whereby they may be adjusted relative to each other, and means for supporting said main folder, whereby it may be adjusted bodily laterallyindependently of said edge-folders.

2. A folder including in combination a main folder, an upper edge folder and a lower'edge folder, said edge folders being located along side of 'main folder and cooperating therewith, means for supporting said-lower edge folder, means for supporting said upper edge folder, whereby it may be adjusted independently of the lower edge folder, and means for supporting said main folder, whereby it may be adjusted bodily laterally independently of the edge folders. 3. A folder including in combination a main folder, an upper edge folder, a

lower edge folder, said edge folders being located alongside of main folder and co operating therewith, means for supporting said edgefolders, whereby they may be adjusted independently of each other, means for. supporting the main folder, whereby it may be adjusted independently of the edge folders; and means for adjusting the main folder relative to the edge folders, and for holding the main folder in adjusted position.

4. A folder including in combination an upper edge folder spaced shanks formed integral with said upper edge folder for supporting the same, a main folder, a shank formed integral therewith, and located between said spaced shanks of said upper edge folder and means for holding said main folder in its adjusted positions; substantially as described.

A folder including in combination an upper edge folder, spaced shanks formed integral therewith, and supporting said upper edge folder, a lower edge folder, a main folder cooperating with said edge folders, a shank for supporting said main folder located between the spaced shanks of the upper edge folder, means for adjusting said main folder,-and means for holding the same in its adjusted positions; substantially as described.

6. A folder including in combination a lower edge folder, a shank for supporting said lower edge folder, means for holding said shank in its adjusted positions, a. main folder, a shank for supporting said main folder mounted upon the shank of said lower edge folder, means for adjusting said main folder laterally bodily independently of said lower edge folder and means for holding the same in its adjusted positions; substantially as described.

7. A folder including in combination a lower edge folder, a shank for supporting said lower edge folder, a main folder, a

shank for supporting said main folder formed integral therewith and mounted scribed.

8. The combination with a work support, of a folder secured thereto, means for adjusting said folder upon said work support and a supporting plate adj ustably secured to said work support and extending within said folder; substantially as described.

9. The combination with a slotted work support, a folder located within the slot in said work support, means for adjustably supporting said folder, and a supporting plate secured to said work support and extending over the slot in said work support to a point within said folder; substantially as described.

10. The combination with a work support, stitch forming mechanism including a needle, a folder located in front of said needle,

comprising a main folder, an upper edge folder and a lower edge folder, and means for adjusting the members of said folders independently of each other and relative to said needle; substantially as described.

11. The combination with a work support, stitch forming mechanism, a presser foot, a folder located in front of the presser foot, and including a main folder, an upper edge folder and a lower edge folder, and means for adjusting each of the members of said folder independently of the others, and an auxiliary pressing member for the folded strip passing through the folder, said auxiliary pressing member being located at one side of the presser foot.

12-. The combination with a folder com prising am-ain folder and edge folders, said main folder having spaced members to receive a tip or rib formed upon the folded strip, a guiding member for closing the space between said members at the delivery end, when said folder is used for folding a plain strip substantially as described.

.13. The combination with a work support, stitch-forming mechanism, a presser-foot, of a folder comprising a main folding member having members which are spaced, to form a guide way for the tip or rib of the strip to be folded, of-a guiding member forclosing the space between said members at the delivery end of said folder, said guiding member extending beyond said folder to a point adj acent the stitching point so that the folded strip is guided to said stitch-forming mechanism; substantially as described.

14. The combination, with a folder of means for guiding astrip to said folder comprising guiding members having the delivery end thereof curved located at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the folder and means for adjusting said guiding members so as to accommodate strips ofdiflerent widths; substantially as described.

15; The combination with" a folder-of means for guiding a strip to said "foldercomprising guiding members, means for adjusting said guiding members relative to each other, and means for closing the space between said guiding members; substantially as described.

16. The combination with a folder of means for guiding a strip thereto, said guiding means being located at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said folder and having edges tapering toward the center of said guiding means and a guiding device in advance of said guiding means for holding the strip against said tapered edges, whereby the edges of the guided strip may be uncurled; substantially as described.

17 The combination with a folder, of means for guiding a strip thereto, comprising guiding members arranged substant ally at right angles to the longitudinal axis of tive to each other,

18. The combination with a folder comprising a main folding member having members which are spaced to receive a rib or tip on the strip to be folded, of guiding means forsaid strip comprising guiding members which are spaced to provide a guiding recess for the rib or tip of said strip; substan tially as described.

19. The combination with a folder of means for guiding a strip to said folder comprising. uiding members, means whereby said guiding members may be adjusted relameans for closing the space between said guiding members and guiding fingers for guiding the strip to said guiding means; substantially as described.

20. A folder including in combination a main folder, an upper edge folder and a lower edge folder and a lever foradjusting said main folder relative to said edge folders folder in and meansfor holding said main positions; substantially as deits adjusted scribed,

21. A folder including in combination a main folder, a lower edge folder, a shank for supporting said lower edge folder, an upper. edge folder, and a lever mounted upon the shank of said lower edge folder and engaging a stud carried by said main folder, whereby said main folder may be adjusted and means for holding said main folder indts. adjusted positions; substantially as described.

22. The combination with a folder of means for guiding a strip to said folder comprising a, pivoted supporting plate, posts carried by said plate, adjustable members carried by said posts for guiding the strip, means for closing the space between said adjustable members, and auxiliary guiding fingers for guiding the strip to said guiding means; substantially as described.

23. The combination with a work support, stitch-forming mechanism and a presserfoot, of a folder, means for adjustably securing said folder to said work support, means for guiding a strip to said folder and an adjustable plate carried by said work support and extendin within said folder; substantially as described.

24. In a folding device, a main folder having a receiving opening of constant dimensions, a guiding channel leading therefrom,

supplemental folders having scrolls substan- 25. In a folding device, a main folder, supplemental folders arranged at the top and bottom of the main folder, said main folder being provided with a longitudinal groove and a shank mounted upon both sides of said longitudinal groove and having a passage between the arms of said shank; substantially as described.

'26. A sewing machine including a work support having a slot cut therein for a folding device, a folding device comprising threeindependent parts, the central portion being upon each side of the work support, the top part above the work support and the lower part below said work support; substantially as described.

27. A sewing machine including a work support having a slot cut therein for a folding device, a folding device comprising three parts, the central portion beingupon each side of the work support, the top part above the work support and the lower part below said work support, and an independent guide in advance of the work support and extending above and below said work support; substantially as described.

28. In a folding device, a main folder having a receiving opening of constant dimensions, a guiding channel leading therefrom, edge folders located .substantially in line with said receiving opening in the main folder, and cooperating with the guiding channel to guide and fold the edges of a strip, means for supporting said edge folder independently of the main folder, and

means for adjusting the main folder independently of the edge folders.

29. In a folding device, a main folder having a receiving opening, a guiding channel leading therefrom, edge folders cooperating with the guiding channel to form an edge-folding portion to guide and fold the edge of a strip, means for adjusting the capacity of the folder, and a lever for effecting said adjustment.

80. A folding device including a portion to give a fold to the strip, a second portion to receive the strip from the first portion and cooperating therewith to fold the edges of the same, and means for imparting relative movement to said portions transversely of the line of the feed of the strip.

31. A folding device including a portion to give a fold to the strip, a second portion to receive the strip from the first portion and cooperating therewith to fold the edges of the same, means for imparting relative movement to said'portions transversely of the line of the feed of the strip, and means for adjusting the second folding portion to accommodate a strip having varying widths.

32. A folding device including a portion to give a fold to the strip, a second portion to receive the strip from the first portion and cooperating therewith to fold the edges of the same, and having means for turning the edges of the strip, and means for imparting a relative movement to said portions transversely of the line of the feed of the strip. 7

83. A folding device including a portion to give a fold to the strip, a second portion separate from the first portion to receive the strip from the first portion and cooperating therewith to fold the edges of the same, the walls of said second folding portion at the delivery end being spaced a less distance apart than the walls of the initial folding portion. y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. MOFFATT.

Witnesses:

CHESTER MONEIL, A. B. GLo'rHIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

